Picture Book Review: Black History Books

Just a few picture books about Black history.

 

These books aren't exactly biographies, but we have them in that section in the library. 

Of course, these are wonderful books to read in the eleven other months of the year too.

Victory Hugo Green was a mail carrier who liked to travel - but because of the color of his skin, he wasn't welcome everywhere. That's when he created the Green Book. The Green Book was a book with businesses who were welcoming and friendly to all.

This book shares how basketball became popular with Black men, They created their own spaces as they were not welcome in most basketball areas. Black men started to organize in the early 1900s. They traveled to play each other. Things changed in 1939 when a Black team - The Rens beat an all white team. Ten years later, the NBA was formed and within a year, the teams were integrated. 

Picture Book Review: The Horseback Librarians

A young librarian rides horseback through Kentucky delivering books to readers.

This is a fascinating story of a librarian who was part of the Pack Horse Library Project (more information in the Author's Note).  I love learning about different librarians. These women were brave and impressive. I love how everyone's happy to see the librarian and read the books she brought them. It's great to see everyone enjoying the love of books and words. 

Happy Hanukkah

Here are a couple new books added to the collection this year. 

This one shares the history to Hanukkah and the celebrations of the holiday.

Ruby's cousin is sad because her mother will miss Hanukkah. Ruby decides to create a scavenger hunt for her cousin to help cheer her up. But she's having a hard time thinking about the one big gift.

A sweet story about helping others and spreading cheer.  

A blizzard makes it impossible for the family to have their traditional Hanukkah meal of Latkes with Applesauce. A kitten and a dog come along, both needing love and a home. They fit right in and help bring joy to the holiday.

A sweet story about how things don't go according to plan, sharing what you have, and love. 

Q & A with Author Barbara Bottner

About the Book:

What does it mean to become an adult in your faith? Join thirteen diverse characters as they experience anxiety, doubt, and self-discovery while preparing for their b'nai mitzvah. And whether celebrating with a lavish party or in reception room A with an accordion player, the Jewish rite of passage remains the same. Filled with humor, hope, and history, there's something in this anthology for every reader, regardless of their faith.

“A hilarious, intimate, essential x-ray of the young Jewish soul right on the brink of adulthood.”

 - Lev Grossman, NY Times bestselling author of The Magicians

“As an elderly Jewish author who was never Bar Mitzvah – when you’ve been beaten up enough times on your way home from school, you understand exactly what you are – I was delighted by COMING OF AGE. It’s a touching, charming and genuinely funny book.”
 - Peter S. Beagle, Award-winning author of The Last Unicorn

Participating authors include Sarah Aaronson, Nora Raleigh Baskin, Barbara Bottner, Stacia Deutsch*, Debbie Reed Fischer, Debra Green, Henry Herz, Alan Katz, Nancy Krulik*, Stacie Ramey, Jonathan Rosen, Melissa Roske, and Laura Shovan, with a poem by Jane Yolen. (*NY Times bestselling authors)

The project was developed to combat hatred. Reading helps build bridges. It gives us an entry point into other worlds, communities, and beliefs. Perhaps, by gaining a little more understanding, better relations will happen. Over the last eight years, the number of anti-Semitic attacks in the United States has steadily risen. While this book isn’t going to cure anti-Semitism—even though a portion of the proceeds is going to go to organizations that will help fight it—what this book will do is bring some fun Jewish stories into your hands. The hands of readers. Not only is it important for Jewish kids to be able to see themselves and their experiences in books, but it’s also good to have non-Jewish kids see that Jewish kids aren’t so different from them after all. Reading helps build bridges. So maybe, just maybe, it can all start with a book.

About the Author:

Barbara Bottner, New York Times best-selling author, is a screenwriter, TV writer, and writing coach, who began her multi-hyphenate career as an artist and actor. Designing off-Broadway sets in the ’60s led her to performance and following her career in theatre, she began writing and illustrating books for children. In total, she has written over 40 books in all areas of children’s literature including Young Adult, Middle Grade, chapter, and "I Can Reads". Several of her award-winning picture books have been animated and translated into multiple languages.

We are chatting today with Barbara Bottner - thanks for joining us!

What is your story about? And how does it fit in with the other stories?

Hannah lives with her family in the apartments above their theater in the lower East Side of NYC, also known as the Jewish Rialto. In the early nineteen twenties, as the Jewish influx of immigrants land in the city from Europe, the Jewish theater served an important purpose to mirror the experiences of the greenhorns that had fled the pogroms. The theater was a mecca for storytelling, conviviality and cultural transmission. Young Hannah is the only one in her family who lacks the performance 'gene.' She's a backstage miracle worker but terrified in front of the footlights. Now, about to become a Bat Mitzvah, she studies the Torah not with a rabbi, who in 1922 were unavailable to females, but with her grandfather who is the carrier of the tradition. Hannah is interested in how she'll go forward into the world as a female, and how females are portrayed in the bible, The Torah, and society at large. More to the moment she's in, how will she manage to stand in front of the community in the lower East Side and deliver her haftorah and speech? Will she overcome her timidity? Will the Haftorah help her to do that? Will she bring pride to her family or will she fall on her feet in embarrassment? After all, it's only the 2nd Bat Mitzvah in the city My story is 100% fiction, so I'm not sure it 'fits' in with the other more realistic accounts, but hopefully it reads real enough to offer a historical perspective.

Does your writing process differ with anthologies vs YA verse novel s vs picture books? Are you a plotter or pantser?

For me, every project is its own puzzle. I write quite a bit from instinct, while I hope and pray what I know about plotting from my days in television or screenwriting, will be there as scaffolding. I follow the characters. I open up to my unconscious. I try to be taken over by the people I'm 'hearing' speak and follow their predicaments. Into this stew, of course, is my life experience. Only when some of the first draft(s) are done, do I take a step backwards and think about plot. If I do that too soon, I can get guilty of contrivance. So, it's a back and forth dance for me. Often I do have an overarching idea of where the story will need to go. But I am reluctant to force characters because I value authenticity. I follow them. They follow me--when I'm lucky! 

Is there a subject you're dying to explore and write about? 

As a Jew, I've always been fascinated with hatred, writ large. I've been exploring the relationship between a young Jewish 'valley girl' and a Skinhead who meet in residential rehab. Writing POV someone who thinks he hates Jews isn't easy. For that I connected to my own anger. I discovered that when I finished the manuscript, I missed this guy for his rage, passion, flaws and that was astonishing to me. I missed him more than the character that could have been me. 

What's up next for you? 

I'm collecting some short stories that have been previously published for adults into a collection that deals with marriage, gambling, medicine, careerism, love and issues of family systems. This one is often funny and I love refining it.

Anything you'd like to share that I didn't ask? 

Living in Hollywood, we have a dual challenge: wanting to write the Jewish experience, and presenting it often to Jewish agents and producers, but then facing the bias that if the story isn't about the Holocaust, they reject it. Much important content is thus ignored. This is a shame. There's so much to write about us that can't get through the gatekeepers. I 've enjoyed seeing my work performed onstage at The Braid, formerly Jewish Women's Theater which DOES court Jewish content on matters both micro and macro.

 Excellent, thanks for chatting today. And don't forget to pick up the book, everyone!

Picture Book Wednesday: Saturday at the Food Pantry

 

Molly and her mother are going shopping at the food pantry because everyone needs help sometimes. Molly spies a friend from school, but her friend isn't happy to see her. Caitlin doesn't want anyone to know she and her grandmother need help. Soon Molly's drawing pictures for people standing in line and Caitlin helps. It brightens the mood for people until they can shop for food.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - it tugs at the heartstrings. Molly's super sweet. She asks thoughtful questions about the rules at the food bank.  I loved the line that everyone needs help sometimes because it's so true. This is a smart thoughtful book that's sure to spark lots of conversation and empathy.  There's a note at the back of the book for adults and caregivers. 

* I don't want to say maybe we can normalize going to the food pantry (Because no one should have to go to bed hungry.) But maybe we can take the negative connotations away from it. Especially in these times, everyone needs help in some form.

** Our local food pantry has a Facebook page and a list of the most need items that week. I bet yours does too. 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for school and public libraries.

Picture Book Wednesday: A Garden to Save the Birds

 

Emmy and Callum heard a bird hit their window. It made them curious, so they did some research. It turns out there aren't that many birds as there used to be. So they did more research to see what they could do to help birds. Some things they start doing and some things they stop doing - both make their yard better for birds. 

I really enjoyed this story. I loved how the siblings researched and then put their new knowledge to work. And they inspired me to do the same. I'm going to create a more friendly backyard for birds (and other small animals). There's a list at the back of the book - helpful tips pulled from the story. I really like how they siblings talked about their findings in the neighborhood and inspired others to create friendly spaces too. The artwork is charming.

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your library - perfect for your nature collection. 

On Your Radar (4)

Title: All the Forever Things 

Author:  Jolene Perry 

Publisher:Albert Whitman and Company

Publication Date: April 1, 2017

Why it Should be on Your Radar:

Quirky Characters
Vintage Clothes
Funeral Home Setting
Tight Family
New Boy
Prom Night
Plot Twist

Mysterious Saturday Review: Mystery of the Zorse's Mask

 * Book 2 in the Curious Cat Spy Club series *

Becca is torn up about giving Zed back to his previous owner. She's not convinced that the owner didn't hurt Zed. Her gut tells her that everything about the man is wrong, but besides Zed's reactions, she's not sure how to prove it.

Luckily for her, the owner wants to recover the fly mask that was on the animal when he arrived at Becca's family animal refugee.  Becca enlists the help of Kelsey and Leo to recover the mask. She also wants to prove that Zed belongs with someone kind, not his owner.

When Kelsey takes matters into her own hands, she becomes wrapped up in a very dangerous situation. Could the club have gotten in over their heads this time?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the second book of this series - while the mystery is great, it's the other plot lines that hit me hard. Kelsey wants to make a good impression on people - so much so that she's willing to imitate them to become friends. But I love how Becca told her the truth about her sparkle friends. I love how the three friends are different and yet care so much about the same things. My heart broke for Zed. After reading this story, I wanted to give my puppy a huge hug and hold him tight. It was sad and yet hopeful. The danger scenes were intense. I'm eager to see what happens next to this group of friends and animal lovers.

Cover Thoughts: Cute and I love how it ties into the book
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: A fun tween mystery that blends friendship, a love for animals, and curious minds. 

Mysterious Saturday Review: Curious Cat Spy Club

Kelsey's out running an errand for her father when she helps a classmate out with a runaway animal.The errand is now out of her control, but she meets her classmate Becca.  As they walk down an alley, they uncover three abandoned kittens.

With the help of a boy, they rescue the kittens and form a club. The first order of business is find a place for the kittens. The second order is to figure out who left the kittens in the dumpster in the first place.

Kelsey and her new friend realize that a number of pets are missing in the neighborhood. Could this have anything to do with the abandoned kittens? Can the three friends work together to find the missing animals?

My Thoughts:  This is a fun start to a new mystery series featuring three tweens. Becca has a group of friends, but Kelsey and Leo do not. I love that they come together because of their interest in animals and because they want to help people. I love how they annoy each other, but also how they learn to see past it. I love that Leo is super logical, Kelsey likes to plan, and Becca tries to keep peace between the two of them. I love Kelsey's spy pack and can't wait to see the club use it more in the upcoming books.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: A great new start to a charming fun series featuring friendship and animals.